People thought we were crazy. Honestly, they weren’t wrong.
In 2017, my youngest sister decided to study abroad in New Zealand. For my parents, it was exciting and nerve-wracking all at once. For Matt and me? We looked at each other and said, “Why not just go?”
So that’s what we did. We booked a trip to New Zealand — with a 1.5-year-old and an almost 5-year-old in tow. Logan actually turned five while we were there. We figured we’d “drop my sister off” and turn it into a two-week family adventure. Simple, right?
The question we heard constantly leading up to the trip was, “Why would you take kids that young on a trip like that? They won’t even remember it.”
I get it. I do. But my answer has always been the same — it’s not about what they remember. It’s about the moments we create. Logan was 2.5 the first time we took him to Disney. I’ll never forget the look on his face. That pure excitement and joy — that’s what matters. You can’t put a price on that.
And Q? He was 1.5, running around New Zealand chasing birds, marveling at things we’d completely stopped noticing as adults, and mispronouncing “cows” as “cow-is.” His first real phrase from that trip? “I want Coke.” Vacation rules — anything goes. It’s all about balance.
Now, let’s talk about getting there. Seventeen hours on a plane with two little kids. It was exactly as fun as it sounds. That flight alone tested everything we knew about traveling as a family. But we made it, and the second we landed, we knew it was worth it.
New Zealand was a big trip and a big expense. We didn’t take it lightly. But we’ve never once regretted it.
This trip is also what really lit the fire for us. It was the moment we stopped waiting for the “right time” and started just going. Because here’s the thing — there’s never a perfect time. There will always be a reason to wait. But if my sister studying abroad on the other side of the world isn’t a sign to book the flights, I don’t know what is.
